privacy

There are plenty of times when sharing your location (on an Android device) is obvious. Naturally, we are referring to checkins, whether they be with Facebook or Foursquare or one of the many other services available. But according to a recent report coming from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) -- your Android device may also be sharing your location without you really knowing.

For those who excitedly pre-ordered their secure Blackphone smartphone, they will be shipping out devices sometime this week. While waiting for the retail versions to come out, Ars Technica put out a review of pre-release unit of the device, ending up with pretty much the same conclusion you'd expect from such a device: great security and privacy features but a bit lacking on the end-user side of things.

Scared of having your phone number accidentally spread over the Internet? That may be the least of your worries if GM's new app and system ever takes off. The app, called DiDi plate will let anyone, with the right app of course, take a snapshot of a car's license plate and get the driver's phone number, opening him or her to a world of hurt from unsolicited messages.

Users of one of if not the most popular Android custom ROM might have something to look forward to, either in their nightly builds or M releases. CyanogenMod's weekly report has revealed a couple of very interesting features, including a super hidden app utility, a dedicated search panel for the home screen, new floating notifications, and a reorganized settings app.

Those who have been quite concerned about recent breaches in security and privacy might be well aware of one of a kind devices like FreedomPop's "Snowden Phone" and Silent Circle's Blackphone. This latter device, which saw quite an uptake after it was unveiled at MWC last February, will be shipping in three weeks, giving its soon-to-be owners access to the company's famous Silent app suite right out of the box.

Facebook has announced some changes this morning. These will deal with how your posts are being shared and will affect both new and existing Facebook users. Essentially, users will be pushed toward sharing with "Friends" as opposed to "Public" moving forward.

BitDefender, a brand easily associated with anti-virus and security software, has updated their Mobile Security Android app with an important new feature. With the new App Lock function, users will be able to keep prying eyes and fingers away from certain apps and sensitive data.

Snapchat may be trying to make peace with the FTC, but it might have also dug its own grave in the process. Documents now reveal how the beleaguered "ephemeral" messaging service not only has not done what it promised to do, but that it has also done what it promised not to do.

Moves was acquired by Facebook back in late-April. At the time of the acquisition it was said Moves "will continue to operate as a standalone app." That bit seemed to suggest the app would continue to be developed as it had been, but there was some doubt in terms of the future.

AVG has just announced the latest member of its family of security software and services. With AVG Vault, users can entrust their private files, personal information, photos, and more to a doubly-encrypted storage that can also be securely synced to other devices through the cloud.